Moms Who Blog : Featuring Menaka Bharathi
Hello and welcome to Mom Blogger October on the Times of Amma. As regular readers know, the Times Of Amma community is all about inspiring Moms and building them up as they work on being themselves and Mothers. And so, this month is dedicated to featuring Moms who are working on being themselves and mothers, while expressing themselves through their blogs. Today we feature Menaka Bharathi who blogs on parenting, health, pregnancy and organic food. Menaka a.k.a, SimpleIndianMom is a mom to two boys. She is an Agricultural Microbiologist and deals with organic farming in its true form. She is also an organic food enthusiast, organic food producer and a mompreneur. She also works as a parenting consultant striving to make this world a safer place for our children and generations to come.
What was it that prompted you to become a blogger?
My husband has a transferable job and many times we had to be in very small places. I wanted a career which could be flexible and also give me satisfaction of helping others. I started content writing which was very enjoyable and also very remunerative.
When I was writing for others I got the hang of writing and a passion grew to write on topics I am interested in and which will be helpful to other moms, I thus started this site, where I could write what new age moms would require.
I wrote on and off due to various other jobs I took up at some places. But still I was always in touch with Simple Indian Mom and couldn't let her go.
Which has been your most memorable post to date and why?
My Pregnancy - what to expect- month wise articles have always been good, mainly because I had done a lot of research for them. Some of my readers were so impressed that they had called up asking if I were a doctor by profession.
I am wrapping them up into an e-book which will be free for my readers.
What has the most memorable comment on your blog been so far?
Most of the comments I read are memorable ones in one way or the other. I have recently found that when you really want to engage your readers you need to write with your heart and I found it really working. My readers off-late let me know that I am doing a good job.
Have you ever started to write a post and then abandoned it? Why?
I have always done that, every day I would have one such post. most often it would be because of some kinds of restriction I have to abide by, I start voicing my opinion and then drop it in half.
Do you stick to a regular posting schedule or do you post whenever inspiration strikes? Do you have a writing routine?
I do not post regularly. Some days I would post 2 articles a day, sometimes none. However I make sure to post at least four posts a week. I never work on week ends.
Do you find it hard to get your voice heard in the crowded blogosphere?
No! In fact when I started there was no Twitter and Faceboook was used for playing Farmville but now we have so much social media that we are able to shout out what we want to be heard by others.
Many say that blogging is dead thanks to other micro-blogging avenues like Twitter, Snapchat and others. As the owner of a traditional blog, how would you respond to that?
I find Twitter and Snapchat a medium to popularize my blog. This is in fact positive for the traditional blogs. Not all that is to be conveyed can be done in 140 words.
As a traditional Blog owner I try to adopt and learn new strategies to use these microblogging avenues to my advantage.
Do you see your blog as a stepping stone to something else? Do you see yourself wearing the tag of 'blogger' five years down the line?
Yes! I see my blog as a stepping stone to my organic products business which I am in the process of developing and launching soon.
What tips do you have for other Indian Mom bloggers?
The time is ripe to unfurl your talents! Just open up and use your opportunities. Search for bloggers in your niche, become their blog buddy and grow together.
You can follow Menaka's blog here:
If you are an Indian Mom who blogs, get in touch with us here or via the Times Of Amma Facebook page, to be listed on the Times Of Amma Indian Mom Blogger Database - 2016.
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